As it stands the EU Temporary Protection Directive will expire in March 2025. Visual artist Valeriia Lysenko and digital media artist Svitlana Zhytnia talk about why the next year worries them and how their lives and work in Graz have changed.

First of all, a brief overview: The EU Temporary Protection Directive has been offering immediate and temporary protection to displaced persons from Ukraine since March 2022. It makes it possible to stay in a member state, live there and work outside of an asylum procedure. The directive for the more than four million displaced Ukrainians in the EU has been extended several times, most recently in autumn 2023 when the EU Council decided to extend it until 2025.¹ This means that the maximum duration of three years, as stipulated in the directive, has been reached. From today’s perspective, the temporary protection status will expire on 4 March 2025.² It is not yet clear what will change for Ukrainians* in Austria. ?

One possibility was discussed in the Austrian Council of Ministers in April 2024: The Austrian government announced that it would also issue the Red-White-Red Card plus to Ukrainians*. They shall therefore still have free access to the labour market. To apply for the card, however, it is necessary to have already worked for twelve months within two years. Moreover, applicants* must have received an average net income of at least 1,200 EUR³. This is only the case for a small proportion of Ukrainians* living in Austria, criticised Caritas, for example. The Red-White-Red Card plus is a good step, but must be part of a comprehensive solution.⁴ The government expects the card to bring improvements for around 7,000 of the almost 50,000 displaced Ukrainians* of working age in Austria.⁵

For two years now, Ukrainians in Austria have been eligible to apply for an ID card for displaced persons, also known as the ‘Blue Card’.⁶ This includes health insurance, a work permit and basic care (accommodation and pocket money). Work is only possible for recipients of basic care up to a certain additional income limit.⁷ If you earn too much, you risk losing your basic care or accommodation. In the past, Johannes Rauch), Austrian Federal Minister for Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, already suggested switching from basic care to Social Help.⁸

Visual artist Valeriia Lysenko has lived in Graz since November 2022 and has already realised numerous projects. One of her artworks has already been featured on the front page of the regional daily newspaper Kleine Zeitung. After a three-month stay in Vienna, Svitlana Zhytnia, digital media artist, also moved to Graz in summer 2022. Much like Valeriia, she also has a strong network in the arts and cultural scene.

Below, the artists Valeriia and Svitlana talk about the doubly precarious working situation as women artists with displaced person status in Austria and the associated fears for the future.

What do you currently do for a living as artists, how do you earn your money?

Svitlana: It is better than expected. When I left Ukraine, I just wanted to escape the bombs. In Austria, I not only found refuge, but was also able to grow as an artist. I usually apply for various subsidies from the federal, state and city governments. This helps to realise projects and make the required materials affordable. I am constantly looking for cooperation partners* and networks. Sometimes the remuneration is higher, sometimes lower. Spring, summer and autumn, for example, are peak seasons for my sector.

Valeriia: I completely agree that we artists* do not have a stable income. Work-intensive phases with many projects at the same time alternate with phases with only a few projects. My main sources of income are residencies, for example I’m currently on a three-month scholarship—that wouldn’t have been possible in Ukraine. This makes artistic work and print experiments more affordable. I apply for many calls for proposals, scholarships, grants and exhibitions. I also take part in workshops and sell my artworks.

What topic are you currently preoccupied with?

Valeriia: The future, or rather the next year, is very much on my mind. It is still unclear what will happen after the end of the Temporary Protection Directive, which is currently only valid until March 2025. That scares me.

What would you like to see changed?

Svitlana: I hope and wish that we Ukrainians* will continue to receive support in Austria even after the end of the Temporary Protection Directive. Above all because I don’t believe that the war in Ukraine will end next year. As things stand, security for living in Ukraine would not be guaranteed. Valeriia, for example, cannot return to Mariupol because the city has been occupied and destroyed.

Valeriia: I no longer have a home there. My roots were cut off by the destruction and the war. In Austria, however, I have a job and a small flat.

Svitlana: I am also convinced that Ukrainians can make an important contribution to social development in Austria. Many talented artists* from Ukraine add value to the Austrian arts and cultural scene, which is also appreciated.

So you want to stay in Austria, even if the war hopefully ends soon?

Valeriia: Yes, because most of my family and friends are no longer based in Ukraine and are now living in countries. I still don’t really feel at home here, but Graz feels more and more like home.

Svitlana: I would like to live in Ukraine as well as in Austria because of my family. Regular physical contact with my mum, my brother and my nieces would be important to me. In Austria, however, there are more opportunities for me to develop as an artist than in a post-war country, for example, where art is not a top priority.

Life as a woman artist can be very challenging. What motivates you in this endeavour?

Svitlana: Having worked in different professions and fields in the past, I realised that this is exactly what I am passionate about—working at music events, regardless of genre. Doing this, I have found the meaning of life for myself.

Valeriia: If you work in the arts and cultural sector, there are no limits. This makes it possible to grow personally and professionally. It’s not always easy, but the activities and challenges involved are incredibly exciting.

1. Ukrainian refugees: EU member states agree to extend temporary protection – Consilium (europa.eu)
2. See articles 4 & 6 and Ukraine: Europäischer Rat verlängert Vorübergehenden Schutz bis 04.03.2025 – Berlin hilft! (Ukraine: European Council extends Temporary Protection until 4 March 2025 – Berlin helps!) (berlin-hilft.com) and Flüchtlingskoordinator Achrainer: Ukraine-Vertriebene im Wartedilemma (Refugee coordinator Achrainer: Displaced persons from Ukraine in a waiting dilemma) (profil.at)
3. https://www.diepresse.com/18354025/rot-weiss-rot-karte-plus-steht-kuenftig-ukraine-fluechtlingen-offen (10.04.2024 APA0221); Regierung öffnet Arbeitsmarkt für bereits beschäftigte Vertriebene aus Ukraine zur Gänze (Government fully opens labour market for already employed displaced persons from Ukraine) – Inland – derStandard.at › Inland
4. Caritas: Switch to regular residence permit for Ukrainian displaced persons remains unclear for the majority of displaced persons: Caritas Austria
5. Cf. footnote 3
6. Blue Card: ID card for displaced persons » all information | AMS; Production start of the card for displaced persons from Ukraine (bmi.gv.at)
7. Ukraine: Caritas hilft Flüchtlingen in der Steiermark (Caritas Helps Refugees in Styria): Caritas Steiermark (caritas-steiermark.at)
8. Grundversorgung wird zum Integrationsproblem für Ukraine-Geflüchtete (Basic services become an integration problem for Ukrainian refugees) – Arbeitsmarkt – derStandard.at › Wirtschaft